PLAY SYNOPSIS - The Rivals by Richard Brinsley Sheridan

  Lydia Languish, a young heiress obsessed with romantic novels, is infatuated with a poor soldier named Ensign Beverley. Unbeknownst to her, Beverley is really Captain Jack Absolute who, in order to court her, has assumed this identity to indulge Lydia's illusions about romantic love. Lydia's aunt, Mrs. Malaprop, shocked at Lydia's involvement with a common soldier, has arranged with Sir Anthony Absolute, Jack's father, for Lydia to marry Jack. Unfortunately, when Jack reveals his true identity, Lydia defiantly clings to her romantic notions and refuses to accept him.

Simultaneously, a close friend of Jack's named Faulkland has fallen in love with Sir Anthony's ward, Julia. Julia is constant in her love, but Faulkland is driven by irrational doubts to submit her love to a ridiculous test. When this test destroys Julia's faith in him, she breaks off their engagement.

In the meantime, Lydia's rejected suitors, Bob Acres and Lucius O'Trigger, each threaten to fight duels on her behalf: Acres with his non-existent rival Beverley, and O'Trigger with Jack. Ironically, the young Captain finds himself facing the prospect of dying for a lady who has rejected him. Everything comes to a head on the duelling field. There, Lydia, alarmed by the prospect of Jack's death, halts the fight and admits her love for him. Julia, ever patient and loyal, forgives Faulkland his "ill-directed imagination."

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